Board reviews $238,434 intercom and bell proposal for Orchard Middle School

Garden City USD 457 staff presented a proposed purchase of an IP-based bell and intercom system for Orchard Middle School with a quoted cost of $238,434.16.

Casey (district staff) explained an RFP process that produced two bids, noted SWC had installed systems at two other district schools and said the recommended system would be IP-based to allow future expansion and centralized management. "The benefit from what we're looking at versus just kind of an analog bell and intercom system allows us to kind of future proof our bellings a little bit by putting it all IP based and putting it on the network," Casey said, describing advantages for future integration with cameras and door locks.

Staff noted the two bids were close, with an approximately $60,000 difference between them, and said one vendor supplies technicians directly while the other contracts installation labor. Trustees asked about warranty length and references; Casey said project guarantees were included in the bid package and committed to providing warranty detail. The transcript records discussion and questions but does not show a motion or vote to approve the purchase during this meeting.

Board members asked about prioritization across buildings given many intercom systems are near end-of-life; staff said Orchard Middle School was moved up the list because its intercoms were in particularly poor condition. No contract award was recorded in the transcript.